APPLE Satellite
A commemorative postage stamp on the 1st Anniversary of ‘APPLE’ (Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment) Satellite, an experimental communication satellite with a C-Band transponder launched by ISRO in 1981 :
Issued by India
Issued on Jun 19, 1982
Issued for : Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department is happy to issue a commemorative stamp on the first anniversary of the launching of APPLE satellite.
Description of Designs : The stamp, designed by India Security Press, Nasik shows the Satellite in Orbit. The First Day Cover depicts an Earth Station. Cancellation has been designed by Charanjit Lal.
Type : Stamp, Postal Used
Colour : Multi colour
Denomination : 200 Paise
Overall size : 3.91 X 2.90 cms.
Printing size : 3.55 X 2.54 cms.
Perforation : 13 x 13
Paper : Unwatermarked adhesive stamp paper
Number printed : 20,00,000
Number per issue sheet : 35
Printing process : Photogravure
Printed at : India Security Press
About :
- The successful launching of APPLE (Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment) India‘s first three-axis stabilised experimental communication satellite, using ARIANE launcher, on June 19, 1981, marks an important milestone in India‘s space programme. By positioning the APPLE Spacecraft in the three-axis stabilised mode in the geostationary orbit at 102ºE longitude on July 16, 1981 after carrying out complicated mission manoeuvres, India joined the ranks of nations who have developed their own three-axis stabilised geostationary communication satellites.
- APPLE, with a launch weight of 673 Kgs. has a cylindrical structure of 1200 mm diameter with an overall height of 1985 mm. The spacecraft was designed and developed at the ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC) of ISRO at Bangalore. This centre was also responsible for the overall management, the development of spacecraft structure, thermal, TTC, power, control and sensor systems, spacecraft integration, testing mission planning and launch and operationalisation.
- The satellite, after integration and tests at the ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore, was transported to Toulouse, France, for compatibility tests with the METEOSAT and CAT satellites forming part of the composite ARIANE payload. The satellite was subsequently transported to Kourou, French Guyana, and after conducting final checks was integrated with the ARIANE launcher. After injection from ARIANE, APPLE was tracked by a network of ISRO’s and ESA‘s ground stations. The mission control operations were performed from APPLE Mission Control Centre at SHAR, which included the firing of the ABM to place APPLE into a near synchronous orbit, deployment of panels, three-axis stabilisation of the spacecraft and final orbital manoeuvres which resulted in the placement of APPLE in the geosynchronous orbit at 102°E longitude.
- The APPLE Utilisation Programme was formally inaugurated by the Prime Minister on August 13, 1981, through a nationwide TV hookup via APPLE. Under APPLE utilisation programme a number of communication experiments are being carried out in cooperation with Posts and Telegraphs, Doordarshan, TIFR and others.
- APPLE has enabled experimentation in the advanced communications technology and has established expertise in the design, fabrication, launch and complicated post launch mission manoeuvres for placing and maintaining such a satellite in the geo-stationary orbit.
- Text by courtesy :– Department of Space.
